"ummm do y'all think Kristin Stewart understands the historical significance of boycotts in the fight for racial justice because I think not," tweeted sarah margaret.

A writer for the web site The Source pointed out that Stewart was offering advice on multicultural representation from the viewpoint of "a successful, Millennial, white, Los Angeles-born actress," tartly adding: "Boring, you say? Just go do something, you say? We're sorry to bother you with all this, Kristen. How dare we fight for equality when you have better things to do, right?"

The outrage subsided when Variety issued a correction.

"An earlier version of the text accompanying this video erroneously attributed Stewart's comments to "diversity," it read. "We have since clarified above that her comments were addressing gender equality."

Stewart was at the festival talking about her new film, Certain Women, a drama directed by Kelly Reichardt​ about the intersecting lives of three women in Montana. It also stars Laura Dern​ and Michelle Williams.